The ‘Koala Woman’ from Brookfield Honoured on International Women’s Day

As Australia marks International Women’s Day, one of the country’s longest-serving wildlife advocates is being recognised for nearly four decades spent campaigning to protect one of the nation’s most iconic animals. Brookfield resident Deborah Tabart OAM, chair of the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF), has dedicated almost 40 years to raising awareness about the decline of koalas and pushing governments to strengthen protections for the species and its habitat.

Often referred to as “the Koala woman”, Ms Tabart has been a central figure in the conservation movement since the late 1980s. Over that time, she has helped turn what was once considered a niche environmental issue into a national conversation about the future of koalas in Australia.

This year also marks a milestone for the organisation she leads. The Australian Koala Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary – four decades of research, advocacy and campaigning aimed at safeguarding the species and the forests they depend on.

For much of that time, Ms Tabart has been one of the loudest voices calling for stronger protection.

Long before koalas were officially recognised as a threatened species in parts of Australia, she was warning of population declines and the impact of land clearing, urban development and habitat fragmentation.

Those concerns were formally recognised in 2022 when the conservation status of koalas in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory was upgraded from vulnerable to endangered.

Conservation groups, including the Australian Koala Foundation, had spent years urging the federal government to acknowledge the severity of the decline.

Ms Tabart has also advocated for national legislation to protect koala habitat, including a proposed Australian Koala Protection Act. This is law she believes would provide stronger safeguards for the species across the country.

While much of her work has involved lobbying policymakers and speaking internationally about wildlife conservation, Ms Tabart’s advocacy has always been rooted close to home.

From her base in Brisbane’s western suburbs, she has helped lead campaigns to protect koala habitat and draw attention to the pressures facing the species in rapidly growing urban areas.

As the Australian Koala Foundation enters its fifth decade, the focus remains on the same challenge that first drew Ms Tabart into the cause: ensuring that koalas continue to survive in the wild.

Published 6-March-2026